Description
This easy black bean soup recipe is healthy, flavorful, and delicious, combining tender black beans with aromatic spices and smoky chipotle peppers. Perfect for a comforting meal, it can be served with fresh lime wedges and optional toppings like avocado or cilantro. Leftovers store well in the fridge or freezer, making it a convenient option for any day.
Ingredients
Soup Base
- 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
- 1 medium yellow onion, diced
- 2 celery ribs, diced
- 1 medium carrot, diced
- 1 teaspoon sea salt
- Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon ground coriander
- ½ teaspoon chili powder
- 2 (15-ounce) cans black beans, including the liquid
- 2 chipotle peppers from a can of chipotles in adobo sauce, chopped, plus 2 tablespoons adobo sauce
- 1½ cups vegetable broth
- 1 tablespoon fresh lime juice, plus wedges for serving
Optional Toppings
- Avocado
- Cilantro
- Sour cream or vegan sour cream
- Pickled onions
- Serrano peppers
- Pepitas (pumpkin seeds)
Instructions
- Sauté Vegetables: Heat the olive oil in a large pot or Dutch oven over medium heat. Add the diced onion, celery, carrot, sea salt, and freshly ground black pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, for 10 to 15 minutes until the vegetables become soft and aromatic.
- Add Spices and Garlic: Stir in the minced garlic, ground cumin, ground coriander, and chili powder. Cook the mixture for about 30 seconds, allowing the spices to release their flavors without burning.
- Add Beans and Liquids: Pour in the black beans along with their liquid from the cans, the chopped chipotle peppers, the 2 tablespoons of adobo sauce, and the vegetable broth. Stir everything together until well combined.
- Simmer the Soup: Allow the soup to simmer gently for 30 minutes over medium-low heat. This process helps all the flavors meld together perfectly.
- Puree Half the Soup: Let the soup cool slightly, then transfer half of it to a blender and puree until smooth. Alternatively, use an immersion blender to puree half the soup directly in the pot. Return the pureed soup to the pot and stir it together with the remaining chunky soup.
- Add Lime Juice and Adjust Seasoning: Stir in the fresh lime juice. Taste the soup and adjust seasoning with additional salt or pepper if desired.
- Serve with Toppings: Serve the soup hot with lime wedges and your choice of optional toppings such as avocado slices, cilantro, sour cream, pickled onions, serrano peppers, or pepitas for added texture and flavor.
Notes
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days or freeze for up to 3 months.
- For a spicier soup, add extra chipotle peppers or chili powder according to your heat preference.
- You can substitute vegetable broth with chicken broth for a non-vegetarian option.
- Use an immersion blender for easier pureeing directly in the pot without transferring hot soup.
- Adjust the thickness by adding more broth if you prefer a thinner soup consistency.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 45 minutes
- Category: Soup
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Mexican
